Breaking News: U.S. MQ-9 Drone Considered by UK for Airborne Early Warning Role on British Navy Aircraft Carriers.

On May 19, 2025, following a formal inquiry submitted by Conservative Member of British Parliament Ben Obese-Jecty, Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry in the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, confirmed that the US-made General Atomics MQ-9 unmanned aerial system (UAS) can be modified for operations from the British Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. This assessment was carried out under the auspices of the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership, of which the United Kingdom is a signatory. As such, the MQ-9 is now being actively considered as a candidate to fulfill the British Royal Navy’s future Carrier Strike Airborne Early Warning (AEW) requirement
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The MQ-9 Mojave Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), developed by the American Company General Atomics, seen on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales during a landmark demonstration on 15th November 2023, validating short takeoff and landing operations from a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier. (Picture source: British MoD)

Presently, the AEW (Airborne Early Warning) mission for the British Royal Navy is conducted by the Merlin HM2 helicopter outfitted with the Crowsnest system. Developed by AgustaWestland, the Merlin HM2 is a sophisticated, multi-role maritime helicopter, extensively used for anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and search and rescue operations. In its AEW configuration, it is equipped with the Thales Searchwater 2000 radar housed in a rotating side-mounted dome, providing airborne surveillance, target tracking, and battlespace management in support of the UK’s carrier strike groups. However, with the Crowsnest system and its host aircraft approaching the end of their operational life, the Ministry of Defence is seeking a modern and sustainable alternative capable of meeting the demands of future naval warfare.

Replacing this manned rotary-wing system with an unmanned fixed-wing solution, such as the American-made MQ-9 presents multiple strategic advantages. These include significantly increased operational endurance, the ability to maintain persistent surveillance over wider maritime areas, reduced crew risk, and lower operating costs. The introduction of an unmanned platform for AEW duties would be a milestone in the evolution of the British Royal Navy’s aviation capabilities, aligning with broader trends among NATO allies in favor of advanced autonomous systems.

The MQ-9, manufactured by the US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone renowned for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. Featuring a wingspan of more than 20 meters and capable of flying for over 27 hours, the MQ-9 can carry a suite of advanced sensors, communication systems, and mission payloads. The MQ-9B variant, including the Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) configuration, has been specifically engineered for expeditionary operations, incorporating ruggedized landing gear and high-lift wings suitable for operations from short runways and even aircraft carrier decks lacking catapults or arrestor systems.

The British Royal Air Force currently operates the MQ-9A Reaper and is in the process of transitioning to the MQ-9B SkyGuardian under the Protector RG Mk1 programme. This pre-existing integration of the MQ-9 platform into British military service provides a well-established foundation for its expansion into naval applications. Experience gained by the Royal Air Force in using MQ-9 systems in combat theatres such as Afghanistan and Iraq underscores the platform’s maturity and operational reliability.

In support of aircraft carrier adaptation, American Company General Atomics successfully demonstrated the MQ-9B Mojave’s short takeoff and landing capabilities aboard HMS Prince of Wales in 2023. During these trials, the aircraft executed multiple deck operations, validating the feasibility of UAS integration with the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. These trials also align with Project Ark Royal, a British Royal Navy initiative investigating the permanent integration of fixed-wing unmanned systems into future carrier air wings. This effort envisions upgrades such as angled decks and improved launch and recovery technologies to accommodate a broader spectrum of aircraft, including unmanned systems.

Should the MQ-9 be formally selected for the Carrier Strike AEW role, it would mark a transformative shift in British naval aviation. The platform’s unmatched endurance and broad sensor coverage would allow for continuous monitoring of vast ocean areas, significantly enhancing threat detection, force protection, and situational awareness for carrier strike groups. With the withdrawal of the Crowsnest system on the horizon, the integration of a proven, unmanned AEW asset like the MQ-9 could ensure the British Royal Navy remains at the forefront of maritime air power in the 21st century.